CHAPTER ELEVEN

– EASTLYNNE –

"I hope he gets shot in the balls after everything is wrapped up," Kathleen grumbles as she stares out the window. "Serves him right to ride back on his bike, every single second in pain, to go wherever the hell he came from."

Parker, who is keeping an eye on the security cameras, snorts. "A bit vicious don't you think? He's here because you asked for help. He's watching out for you, and your dog from what I've heard."

Kathleen turns away from the window to glare at Parker. "I'm trained and qualified to be with every single one of them out there."

"That's why you're here with me watching over precious cargo." Parker shoots me a wink.

Kathleen winces and mutters, "I'm not complaining about the importance of my task."

"No, about the asshole showing up and taking over." Parker chuckles. "Don't worry about it, Kathleen. You're still the sheriff and that fucker will be gone come morning. You'll never have to see him again."

There's a loud bang coming from Cosima's bedroom followed by stumbling. I'm rushing into the hallway and so is Parker.

I barely manage to grab him by his leather cut. "Parker, stop. We had an agreement."

Parker jabs his hands in the air. "Fine. Just go and check if she's okay in there."

Pointing at the living room, I wait until he's left to check on Cosima. I hate pushing Parker away. He's the vice president of the motorcycle club and out of all the people in that brotherhood, I've been around Parker the most. Aside from Rourke, of course.

Parker is honest, direct, trustworthy, and seems to be interested in my sister. For a moment Cosima was too, even if she met him after being attacked and never actually saw his face. But with the complications and her recovering from what happened, she's not taking any visitors. Especially not a guy she's interested in.

"Hey, are you alright, Cosima?" I ask as I open the door.

Cosima curls into herself and I stay rooted in place.

"Hey, it's just me, okay?" I tell her in a soothing voice.

She releases a frustrated growl. "I hate this shit. All I did was reach for the water bottle and I couldn't even see the damn thing so it fell down. Then I stepped on it and almost broke my fucking neck. I'm disoriented from almost falling and didn't know where the fuck I was standing in my room. Fuck!"

I can't help but wince at the frustration, anger, and despair echoing in her voice. There are no comforting words I can give her. We both heard the doctor; these things take time and can only heal with rest. It's the same with the other symptoms due to the concussion. She has issues with concentrating and with her memory, clearly feeling emotional, but who wouldn't with the complications? The sleeping issues are also a pain because she needs the rest.

From here I notice the water bottle is half under the bed. "I'm stepping into the room."

Cosima swings her arm out and I take her hand to guide her to the side of the bed.

"I hate this," she murmurs and gets back into bed.

I snatch the bottle from underneath the bed. "Do you still want the water?"

She holds out her hand again. "Maybe we should switch the water with some alcohol 'cause I could really use the whole ‘drink myself into oblivion' status right about now."

"I get it." Placing the water in her hand, I add, "But drinking booze will have to wait till your brain can handle it. Besides, adding painkillers to an alcohol cocktail will double the havoc inside your brain. Definitely not a good idea."

"I hate it when you're in charge, and I love it at the same time because you've really stepped out of your comfort zone. It's me. I hate myself and feel so damn useless. I'm normally the one who looks after the both of us," she grumbles.

Stepping closer, I place my hand on her arm and she jerks away from me.

"Shit. Sorry. I'm so damn jumpy. Another thing I fucking hate," she growls. "I'm tired. Sorry. Maybe I can finally get some sleep."

Emotions are clogging my throat. Feeling helpless sucks.

"Okay, let me know if you need anything," I croak.

She doesn't say anything and stays huddled in the blanket as I back out of the room. Closing the door behind me, I wander back to the living room where Parker is waiting for me.

"And?" he practically demands.

"She's a ball of nerves and is angry at the world. So, leave her alone for at least another few weeks," I snap.

Both Parker and Kathleen's phones give a notification of an incoming message. Parker glances at his screen and turns it to me. I take in the message and release a deep breath. Hanging around the house waiting is one thing, knowing they have IDed Erwin and are about to enter his ranch, guns blazing is a whole other thing.

"Great, now I'm a ball of nerves," I grumble and move toward the couch to let myself drop onto it.

The couch dips beside me. "It's not the first time Rourke has faced danger or helped catch criminals. We've all had training and can surely handle a gun and hold our own during a fight."

"Parker is right," Kathleen states. "I've seen it as a kid growing up, and as an adult how the brotherhood works flawlessly together. Sitting here, waiting until they have it handled is way worse, but you're helping by staying safe."

"You're one to talk," I grumble.

Kathleen chuckles and points at the empty spot beside me. "Mind if I sit down?"

I smile at her thoughtfulness. "Thanks for asking." I bump against Parker's shoulder with my own. "Instead of simply plunking down like this one did."

Parker shrugs. "You tolerate me now, I don't need to ask. Besides, it's not like I'm sitting on your lap."

"Do you tolerate people once you get to know them?" Kathleen asks as she sits down.

I think about how to answer and all I come up with is, "Maybe. It gets easier when I've spent time with a person. Colt touched my shoulder earlier today when he wanted to give me some support and kindness when we're talking about a heavy subject. Yes, I might tolerate more once I know and trust them."

"Good to know." Parker bumps his shoulder against mine.

I roll my eyes and mutter, "Don't push it. I might tolerate you guys, but that doesn't mean it's an open invite to breach my personal space, touch my stuff, grab food off my plate, or sit on my bed or anything."

"What the fuck? Why would I want to sit on your bed or steal your food?" Parker asks, eyes wide.

"You know." I wave my hand. "That stuff some people do when you're at a restaurant and snatch a fry off your plate."

Parker falls silent and Kathleen chuckles. "You do know Parker is a fry snatcher, right?"

I give Parker a stern look. "I might have noticed and it's why I brought it up."

"Noted," Parker grumbles.

Movement outside catches my attention.

Kathleen and Parker get to their feet, and it's Kathleen who asks, "Are you expecting someone? A delivery maybe?"

I stand and glance out the window. "To be honest? I have no freaking clue."

Parker steps in front of me. "You shouldn't be standing near the windows."

"Why? Do you think they're going to shoot us instead of delivering stuff?" I snort, and feel my shoulders sag the next instant when I realize, "Dammit. I don't want to bother Cosima, but she's the only one who knows these things."

We watch as two men get out of the white delivery van.

Kathleen places her hands on her hips. "Well, we're not going to open the door unless we know for sure they are supposed to deliver something you guys ordered."

"Two brothers are out front, a few others around the back. They will handle it," Parker states.

"I'll ask," I mutter, not wanting the guys outside to get hurt, and stomp in the direction of the hallway.

Opening the door, I step inside the bedroom and watch how Cosima jolts upright, snatches the bottle of water from the bedside table and hurls it in my direction.

"What the hell?" I snap and barely manage to dodge the bottle. "You can't find the thing when you want a sip of water but flawlessly grab it to throw it at my freaking head?"

"Be glad it wasn't the lamp I grabbed because I can't fucking see anything and simply snatched the first thing I felt," Cosima fires back.

"Gee, thanks," I mumble under my breath and release a sigh. "Hey, do you remember if we have something scheduled to be delivered today? There's a white delivery van out front."

"I don't know, East." She points at the bathroom. "Check the calendar on the fridge. Food for the horses should come in this week, but I can't remember the date."

Better not to mention she's pointing in the wrong direction. "Thanks, sis."

I turn to step out of the room when I hear a gunshot.

"Is that a gunshot?" Cosima squeaks.

"Stay here," I tell her and close the door behind me.

Parker rushes toward me and snaps, "Back into the bedroom, now."

I glance over his shoulder. "What about Kathleen?"

"I'm right here," Kathleen says and I turn to open the bedroom door.

"Cosima, we're all gonna stay in here," I tell her, knowing she's going to hate it but there isn't another way.

Cosima throws her blanket over her head and I only hear a muffled, "Great."

No. Nothing is great about anything when I hear a few more gunshots. Parker's phone goes off and he's listening for a few heartbeats to whomever is calling him before he hisses out a few words.

"What's going on?" Kathleen asks when Parker ends the call.

"They took Erwin down but one of his men slipped away. They think he alerted the others who weren't at the ranch. The guys are coming here, but it will take–"

"What? Hours? Minutes?" I snap, feeling panic hitting me full force, especially when I hear someone trying to kick down the door. "Oh, shit. Did they hurt our guys who were outside?"

Kathleen palms her gun. "Try not to think of anything bad happening, we don't know anything yet." She squats down and grabs a tiny gun strapped to her ankle. "Here, do you know how to handle a gun?"

I stare at the chunk of steel in Kathleen's palm and keep my lips sealed. How the hell did everything escalate so freaking quickly?

"Why isn't she answering your question?" Cosima asks. "Did she take the gun? Eastlynne knows how to shoot a gun, our mother taught the both of us."

"It's not nice to rat out people," I snap at my sister.

"Fuck you, sis. It's not nice to bring people into my bedroom while I specifically told you not to bring anyone around the damn house. I respected your shit for years and now that I'm asking–"

"Gunshots and people trying to get inside the house, Cosima," I snarl, cutting off her ramblings. "As soon as we kill the fuckers who disrupted our home, I will make sure no one else will step foot inside the house again, okay?"

Hushed voices come from the living room and Parker signals with his hands to Kathleen. I have no clue what they're up to but Kathleen seems to understand. Parker aims his gun forward and slips out of the bedroom.

The rumbling of bikes approaching is coming from outside. My gaze goes to the windows but it gives a view of the stables since Cosima's bedroom is located on the back of the ranch house. Fear grips my heart when I notice a man with a jerrycan jogging out of the stables. He drops the jerrycan at his feet and flips his lighter, letting it fall to the ground as well.

Realization hits me full force and it causes the words to slip over my lips in pure horror, "He set fire to the stables while the horses are still inside."